I’ve not taken many Art classes past my high school days, but I loved walking into the Art room way back when. It had a smell to it, kind of earthy like clay and crayons. It was always kind of dirty in a cool way and finding an unbroken crayon, pastel or piece of charcoal was rare. I vaguely remember the funny little square Conte Crayons and have to admit, back then a paint brush interested me far more.

I bought some a while back and thought they’d be good for on the go sketching in my Moleskine journal so the other day I had a few minutes to play in my journal and I pulled them out. They were laying in the box, pristine and unbroken, each one nestled in its little compartment. I started to sketch and was quickly engaged, surprised at how smoothly they laid down on the page. I was even more impressed with the detail I was able to get with them. These pages took only a few moments, some Conte Crayons and a blending stump.

This medium will be perfect for working outside in the sunshine. I love to sneak out for a few minutes of solitude and vitamin D every chance I get. I’m liking these crayons so much I went back and ordered a box of colored ones. Sometimes the overlooked, simple supplies can be just the thing to inspire you to go back to the basics.

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14 responses

Ooh yeah you took me back to the art room in highschool, the smells, the colored dust and all. Here is to revisiting old materials and finding newness in them. I played yesterday with the old black carbon papers nobody uses any more. It was so much fun. Sweet discoveries. Beautiful portraits.
XOXOrly

Boy do I remember conte crayons! And I usually steered clear of them because of the square shape and they were so hard. Guess I need to pull them back out and give them a whirl. Thanks for the heads up!
Hugs
SueAnn

I took a couple of mandatory art classes in high school, but when we got to choose electives, chose not to do that. However, whenever there was a class in my year and I had the period off, I hung out in the classroom, until the art teacher challenged me to do some artwork — that was my first mixed media!

Do the stark features of the faces represent changes in the direction you are going? There’s a story in their faces but I’m missing the calmness of the past…. So glad to see you back on the blog….. I’ve missed you.

I think the crayons add to the ‘starkness’. Just playing in my journal, letting the sketches come quickly and a little edgy. Thanks for the nudge to do a blogpost:-) For some of my softer looking ladies check out the next Somerset Studios ‘With One Palette’

We often think we need “serious” supplies to make “good art” and overlook the very tools that engaged us in the process initially. As a high school art teacher I have become so accustomed to the smells of my classroom that I rarely consider them. However, I feed off the enthusiasm and creative energy of my students. For the most part, they LOVE to try new things. Being in the classroom with all those ideas bouncing around is like lightning flashing across summer’s evening skies sometimes! I love it.

Love how you draw the cheeks and make them really stand out…thanks for sharing! I always liked the atmosphere in art classes…especially in grade school and younger years, because there was that sense of freedom, doing whatever you wanted kind of space!